Saturday, January 19, 2008

It is cold here. Okay, I am whining just a bit because I know it is snowing where some of you live. Yesterday, though, it didn't get above 36 degrees where I live. And that is not normal. When I went running yesterday afternoon, it was barely 33 degrees and there was that annoying misty drizzle in the air - the Oregon type of misty drizzle that I've never loved. I bundled up thinking that I would be a running popsicle - long johns, shirt made to keep one warm and yet not sweaty, special waterproof windbreaker, knit cap, Poetroad's winter gloves.

Half-way through my run, I realized a few things:

1. I was way overdressed - even for 33 degree weather. After mile two, I took off my gloves and considered taking off the windbreaker too.

2. Not only was I the only person running that day in my neighborhood, but I was the only person outside. Actually, that's not entirely true. I did cross paths with one other runner - he is a dentist (I know this because this guy is the father of oldest daughter's friend). Anyway, we all know about a dentist's affinity for discomfort (need I remind you of Ch@ndy's little visit to the Russian/mafia dentist in Pecan Creek? "Stop crying like baby!"). So it only seems natural to see a dentist running in near freezing temperatures. Everyone else driving by me, however, looked at me like I was crazy.

3. I run just as fast as my 65 year old father. Who had a hip replaced only three months ago. Pathetic. It took me 60 minutes to cover 5 miles.

Later that night, H@nnah and I went to the movies - we saw a light little musical called Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. We didn't know anything about the movie except that Mr. Depp was the main character. Honestly, that is the bloodiest movie I've ever seen - no joke. H@nnah and I spent half of the movie cowering in our seats and covering our eyes. Still, the bleak and macabre mood of this flick is oddly juxtaposed with the lightness of "musical" and nicely represents Post-Modern Deconstructionism. The movie sort of had a Moulin Rouge feel, except Sweeny Todd was a more gory representation of the theme.

I really liked the movie because I appreciate a good musical (J. Depp is a decent singer in this movie) and dark humor. Be prepared to see lots of throat slashing and other horrific images, and be prepared to laugh too. The story line is weak in only a few places (Toby's purpose and responses are not as strong as they could be, but the character is integral to the story, especially at the end). This is a movie that I would see again.